Clapper valve



R. S- CLARKE CLAPPER VALVE Feb. 3, 1931.

Filed May 1, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l l I l l I Feb. 3, 1931.

R. s. CLARKE 1,7 1,463

CLAPPER VALVE Filed May 1, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 3, 1931 RALPH S. CLARKE, OF DORCI-IESTER, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNCR TO HEN raise:

me: LAUNDRY Mnonrnnny oolnr'any, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A oonro- RATION on MAssAcnns Tfrs oLArrnR VALVE Application filed May 1,

This inventionrelates to clapper or ex,- haust valves for the qu1ck discharge ofthe contents of washing and other machines.

' open Fig. 4, a rear edge view on a reduced scale of the gate closed, the locking detent being removed.

Flg. 5, a vertical longitudinal sectlon on the line -5, Fig. 1, reversed showing the means for locking the clapper carrying posts and Fig. 6, a plan of the post locking yoke.

Referring first to Fi s. 1, 2, my novel valve is shown as comprising a head or clapper 1, of suitable size and configuration provided with a gasket 2.

The head, as shown, is rectangular in outline and is carried yieldingly by springs 3 on posts 4, which extend down through and are movable in spaced arms 5 connected by a bridge member 6 carrying at its rear side a toe 7, all forming what may be called aclapper locking member or support 8. The front end of this member is bent upwardly and carries a pin 9 which rests in an open slot 10 'in ears 11 on the body 12.

This body is a rectangular one and is bolted to angle plates or brackets 13, which, in turn, are conveniently secured to the casing 14 about the discharge opening 15 therein. The

springs 3 seat at one end against the clapper 1, and at their opposite ends against the upper face of the bridge member 6.

The upper face of the clapperl, Figs. 5, 6, is partly'countersunk and receives therein a.

yoke 16, the forked ends 17 of which receive respectively the reduced upper ends 18 of the posts 4 and thus keep them from dropping from the clapper.

For retaining the locking member 8 in locked position, I provide, Figs. 2, 8, a curved Serial No. 359,643.

detent 19, pivoted at 20 to the ear 21 on the body. On this detent isadjustably secured a block 22 provided with a .lip 23 to receivethe toe 7 of the member 8, the block, by its weight! being suflicient to cause thelip normally to be positioned as in Fig. 2 to receive the member 8.

' For controlling the position of this lip member, when locking or unlocking the memher 8, there is provided atrip or treadle mem-.

ber 24 pivoted at 25 to themember 8 and having at its rear end a beveled nose 26 and at its forward end a foot reston pedal 27 for operating it. This trip member is relatively narrow, Fig. 1, and extends rearwardly through a slot 28 in the bridge 6 and, Figs. 2, 3, overlies the lip 28.

In-operation, if the valve is locked as in.

Figs. 1, 2, to unlock it and'exhaust the COIL.

tents of the casing or container, the operator lifts the forward end of the trip member- 24 with his foot, thus throwing the beveled rear end downwardly against the lip 23 and;

causing it to swing, rearwardly on the pin 20 and freeing the toe 7 of the. member 8, permitting. the valve to drop as in Fig. 8. To

prevent the member 24 from dropping too far, I provide it with a n-eck28 in which is a pin 29 which engages the member 8 and thus acts as a stop for the member 24.

Or if preferred, to unlock the valve, the operator may give. the pedal 27 quick .down-. ward thrust throwing the opposite end of the member 24 upwardly against the curved portion of the detent 19 and the nose 7 of'the locking member slightly outward against the beveled forward wall of the detent 22 which will be, sufiicient to cause it to swing outwardly on the pin 20 and-release the bar 24 or give the elbowv of the member 8 a kick causing the nose 7 to spring upwardly against the yielding spring8, and throwing tl detent 22 outwardly to free it from the nose 7.

To close and lockthe valve, the operator presses downwardly with his foot upon the rest 27 and thus throws the opposite or rear end of the member 24 upwardly against the.

under side of the lip 23' causing it and the detentlQtoswing outwardly and permit the toe. ofithe. member; 8 topass upwardpast the detent and become locked thereby as it swings back into position, Fig. 2.

It will be appreciated of course that the gasket 2 must be frequently renewed as it gets very hard usage. It will also be obvious that where the valve is being repeatedly opened and the contents of the container dumped, the conditions beneath the container or casing must be ve y wet and untidy and that beneath the casing is a very diliicult place in which to do work such as changing gaskets.

By my novel construction the whole valve construction can be removed bodily, by litting it, when unlocked, upwardly and for wardly to free the pin 9 from the slot 10 and the unit carried to a convenient and dry place in which to Work.

This will also shorten very much the time for doing the work. It will be observed that there are no auxiliary valve parts attached to the casing for operating the valve but parts are all carried by the valve structure as a unit.

The foregoing construction is very simple and effective and much easier to install, re move and repair than any other construction that I know of.

My invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof described and illustrated herein.

Claims:

1. A clapper valve comprising a. body, a locking member pivoted thereon, a detent pivoted above but effective below and for the member, a. clapper carrying bridge on the locking member, a relatively adjustable clapper thereon, and means on one end of the locking member for swinging it and to raise the opposite end and swing the detentout wardly to free it from the locking member.

2. A clapper valve comprising a body, a bridge supporting locking member movable thereon, a clapper yieldingly mounted upon the locking member, and a. detent member for the latter with a lip thereon and a. wall extended upwardly therefrom so that upward movement of the nose of the locking memher will strike said Wall, and swing the detent away from the locking member.

3. A clapper valve comprising a body, a locking member pivoted thereon, a clapper supporting bridge member on the locking member, a clapper thereon, a detent for the locking member, and a trip member constructed and arranged to engage the detent to cause it to hold and to release the locking member.

4. A clapper valve comprising a body, aclapper carrying locking member thereon, a pivoted detent therefor, a bridge member on the locking member, a clapper thereon. and a trip member extended through the bridge, and engaging the detent. V

5. A clapper valve comprising a body, a clapper carrying locking member thereon, a.

' detent pivoted on the body, a bridge on the locking member, a clapper yieldingly mounted on the bridge, and a trip member having a sliding engagement with the detent to cause it to release the locking member.

6. A clapper valve comprising a body, a locking member movable thereon, a detent for the locking member, a spring supported clapper on the locking member, and a pivoted trip member to free the locking mem her from the detent by downward movement ahead of the locking member.

7. A clapper valve comprising a body, a locking member thereon, a detentior and normally positioned beneath the locking member and a trip member movable separate from the locking member to swing the detent out of the path of the latter preparatory to locking and unlocking the latter.

8. A clapper valve con'iprising a body, a clapper, a clapper locking member on the body, a detent for the locking member and a trip member for the detent, the detent fasl. ioned and mounted to be responsive to a quick downward movement of the trip member to unlock the locking member and re sponsive to a slow upward movement of the locking member to lock the locking member.

9. A clapper valve comprising a body having a curved flange on one side thereof, a locking member pivotally supported on said flange, a detent for the member, a clapper carrying bridge on the locking member, a clapper thereon, and a trip member movably mounted on the locking member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

' RALPH S. CLARI'E. 

